Blues won contest to avoid cellar

~ St. Louis edged Columbus with the lone goal in the shootout session Wednesday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a game featuring bottom feeders riding frustrating losing streaks, St. Louis skated away a winner.

Bill Guerin scored the only goal in the shootout and the Blues rallied to beat Columbus 4-3 Wednesday night in the Blue Jackets' final game before Ken Hitchcock takes over as coach.

"He's a patient goalie," said Guerin, who slid his winner past Columbus goaltender Pascal Leclaire to end St. Louis' three-game slide. "They can only back up so much."

As a team, the Blue Jackets, losers of a season-high seven straight, have nearly backed themselves out of playoff contention. They are hoping a new coach can salvage their season.

Hitchcock's hiring was announced by team president and general manager Doug MacLean shortly before the Blue Jackets took the ice to face the Blues.

"I've got to believe that nobody is throwing in the towel," MacLean said during the first intermission. "I know I'm not and I guarantee you Ken Hitchcock isn't, and I hope nobody in our dressing room is."

St. Louis goalie Manny Legace stopped all four shootout shots he faced, including a glove save on Manny Malhotra's last attempt.

"This is huge," said Legace who finished with 29 saves. "We need to get back on a roll. We battled back and I thought the guys played phenomenal tonight all-around."

Jamal Mayers had two goals, including the tying score with 2:18 remaining, and an assist for St. Louis, which also broke a five-game road losing streak.

Ryan Johnson also scored and Barret Jackman finished with two assists.

"I'm happy to be able to chip in," Mayers said of his career-high three points. "We got the win and we needed it."

Fredrik Modin and Nikolai Zherdev each had a goal and an assist for Columbus, which has the fewest points (12) in the league. Rostislav Klesla also scored and David Vyborny added two assists.

Leading 3-2 after scoring earlier in the third period, Columbus failed to get a clinching goal on a 1:10 two-man advantage late in the period. Moments after the power play expired, Mayers, positioned near the crease, tied it by knocking the puck in from midair.

"I was waiting for it to come down before it was at least below the crossbar," Mayers said. "It seemed like it took forever."

"It is still a matter of us trying to find a way to win," Columbus interim coach Gary Agnew said. "Giving up a one-goal lead ... under 3 minutes to go, we just need to make smarter plays."

St. Louis scored early in the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Jackman dropped a pass to Mayers. who had his point shot redirected by Ryan Johnson in the slot.

After Zherdev tied it, the Blues went in front again in the second period. Jay McClement curled around Vyborny in the right corner and centered a pass that bounced off a skate in the crease to Mayers, alone at the back post. Mayers slid the puck between the legs of Leclaire for his third of the season and first since Oct. 12.